Volcanismo explosivo reciente en la caldera del volcan Sollipulli, Andes del Sur (39°S)

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Recent explosive volcanism at Sollipulli volcano, southern Andes (39°S). The Solipulli volcano is a caldera that nests a ca. 2 km3 glacier. lts last eruption occurred over 700 years ago, through a parasitic cone. On the other hand, a paroxismal plinian eruption (Alpehue eruption) took place ca. 2,900 a B.P., whose explosivity index (VEI) reached 5. The eruption developed a 44 km high column, erupting 7.5 km3 of airfall pumice and 0.4 km3 of pyroclastic flows. The violent eruption occurred at a 1 km diameter crater, located on the southwest margin of its 4 km average diameter caldera. The Alpehue eruption could have been triggered by the ascent of a big volume of andesitic-basaltic magma (56% SiO2) into the high part of a zoned magma chamber that contained a lesser volume of differentiated siliceous magma (67% SiO2). The Sollipulli volcano is active and consequently it could cause a catastrophic eruption at any moment. Therefore, it is a highly risk volcanic center, able to generate voluminous lahars, pyroclastic flows and high and densily laden columns, whose dispersion could cause an incommensurable disaster, not only in the chilean territory but also, in the southern part of Southamerica.